Relo'bersk'eni, also called by his Core name of Bersk, was a general in the Droid Army of the Confederacy of Independent Systems during the Clone Wars.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Relo'bersk'eni was born on Csilla in the Unknown Regions, the capital of the Chiss Ascendency. At the age of twenty, he joined the Chiss Expansionary Defense Force and attended the Chiss Academy, where he stood out due to his talent in organization and strategic ability. He graduated in the top third percent of his class and was commissioned as a lieutenant. The young Chiss quickly made himself known as a capable officer. Not very long after his graduation, his ability gained the notice of Mitth'raw'nuruodo (better known as Thrawn), who informed Darth Sidious of the young Chiss officer's talents. The Dark Lord of the Sith asked him to be brought to the Galactic Republic. He was joined by Sev'rance Tann and Vandalor, two Force-sensitive Chiss that also had various talents (Tann being a brilliant tactician). Sidious was determined to use them in his plans for dominance.
While Tann went on to become one of Count Dooku's Dark Acolytes and a general, the Chiss who became known as "Bersk" was given the rank of colonel. Since he was not Force-sensitive, Dooku did not have as much of an interest in the young officer, despite his talents as a military leader. Bersk nonetheless continued to serve the new Confederacy of Independent Systems―a group of systems disillusioned with the Republic―since he got a fairly high rank and thought that it would be far quicker to rise to a position of prominence in the CIS than in the more restrictive Ascendency. During a war game in 23 BBY, Bersk defeated a number of commanders who commanded a numerically superior force by tying them down a guerrilla conflict. Impressed with his leadership skills, the Separatist high command promoted him to the rank of lieutenant general.
War against the Republic[]
At the outbreak of the Clone Wars in 22 BBY, following the Battle of Geonosis, Lieutenant General Bersk was given command of the 5th Army, part of the Separatist Western Front. Its first operation was the invasion of Felucia, which would become the 5th Army's headquarters until the end of the war. Lieutenant General Bersk led the unit under the direct command of General Grievous, the Supreme Commander of the Droid Armies. The 5th Army was attacked by the Grand Army of Republic as the Jedi High Council ordered a detachment of clone troopers, led by Jedi Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi, Plo Koon, and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. An initial assault on their landing site gave them heavy casualties, but the Republic managed to hold its foothold on the planet.
While Bersk advised Asajj Ventress against an immediate counterattack, suggesting that they allow the Republic to "come to their doom" by launching an offensive that would overstretch their forces, she was not as patient as he was. Ventress ordered a second assault that further damaged the 5th Army, with its 16th Army Corps nearly being completely destroyed. The clones took advantage of the situation to launch a strike at the Separatist headquarters on the planet. That forced the 5th Army to pull away from the front line and move back to defend the base. However, they were able to repel them and again attacked the landing site, pinning down the Republic forces. Jedi General Plo Koon arrived at that point with reinforcements, however, and destroyed many of the Confederate Navy ships in orbit.
Plo Koon's reinforcements aided the besieged Republic troops while they evacuated. Bersk suggested that they intensify their attack to annihilate them before they could escape, a suggestion that Ventress agreed with. However, Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano managed to breach the line of the Separatist flank in the east. The Dark Acolyte told the Chiss officer about the "reckless young Padawan" that led the Republic force on the east flank. He took advantage of this and prepared a large force to attack her position, which she refused to abandon despite orders from the Jedi. However, she finally gave in and left, but not before witnessing Bersk's troops fully decimate her clone troopers. The final pockets of Republic resistance continued to hold out for a couple more hours but fell not long after the Jedi withdrawal. The 5th Army scored its first victory, and Bersk was promoted to the rank of general.
Other early actions[]
Establishing its headquarters on Felucia, the 5th Army led an assualt on Centares, which was defended by forces under Jedi General Shaak Ti. Bersk led the 5th Army in a short campaign, which mostly consisted of urban warfare over the planet's capital. The Jedi managed to give them heavy casualties using the Force, but Bersk was able to outsmart the numerically superior clone forces and eventually decimated the Republic garrison. The Republic was forced to retreat, abandoning the world to the Separatists. The Chiss general later led the unit against the Republic at the Battle of Lianna. Everything was initially proceeding well, with the Republic army getting encircled and cut off from its supply bases. However, Jedi Master Cei Vookto sacrificed himself to use elemental summoning powers of the Force, which decimated the Separatist 5th Army. Bersk and the few surviving battle droids retreated.
This cost him his position as the commander of the 5th Army, being reassigned shortly after the Battle of Lianna. Bersk replaced Dastin Tylanthar as the commander of the 9th Army, on the Southern Front.
Military career[]
- 27 BBY ― Graduated the Chiss Academy and made a lieutenant
- 25 BBY ― Recruited by Darth Sidious and Count Dooku, appointed as a colonel in the CIS
- 23 BBY ― Promoted to lieutenant general, given command of 5th Army
- 22 BBY ― Promoted to general
- 21 BBY ― Given command of the 9th Army